Fire stop or trap for motion-picture machines



D. A. RAYMOND FIRE STOP 0R TRAP FOR MOTION PICTURE MACHINES Filed Oct.15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet I gnvenfoz Aug. 28, 1928. I 1,682,627

D. A. RAYMOND FIRE STOP OR TRAP FOR MOTION PICTURE MACHINES Filed Oct.13, 1927 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flm a9. Haymazzd I Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

DON A. RAYMOND, 0F MONTICELLO, INDIANA.

FIRE STOP OR TRAP FOR MOTION-PICTURE MACHINES.

Application filed October .13, 1927. Serial No; 225,939.

This invention relates to fire stops or traps of that type used inconnection with motion picture machines for the purpose of preventingfire originating in the mam casing from enterin the magazines of the mach1ne.

The invention has for one of its ob ects to provide a fire sto or trapof the character stated which shall e adapted to cut oif allcommunication between the main casmg and the magazines immediately onthe tak ng fire of that ,portion of the film pass ng through the main.casing, which shall be simple, durable and inexpens ve, and WhlCh shallbe adapted to be maintained 1n a state of high efiiciency withcomparatively little or no attention.

With the foregoin and other ob ects in view, the nature of w ich willappear as the description proceeds, the lnvention consists of theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectionalvlew taken on a plane extending vertically andcentrally through a motion picture 111510111118 equipped with a firestop embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a detail view in side elevation of one of the units of thefire stop. or trap,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the,

vertical plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated bythe line 1-4: of Figure 3, e

Figure 5 is a view in'end elevation of the fire stop or trap unit, and

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken on the horizontal plane indicated bythe l ne 6-6 of F re 3.

' Re erring in detail to the drawings, 1 designates the main casing, 2the upper magazine, 3 the lower magazine, 4 the ob ectrve or front lens,5 the condenser or rear lens, and 6 the light shutter of a motionpicture machine. 7 designates the upper reel, 8 the lower reel, 9 thefilm, and 10 the film actuating and guiding means of the rnach1 ne. Themagazines 2 and 3 are provlded w th slots 11 and 12, respectively,through. which the film 9 passes while being unwound from the reel 7 andupon the reel 8.

The fire stop or trap comprises casings 13 which areopen at their endsand provided with attaching flanges 14. Each casing 13 is open at oneside. The casings 13 are secured to the magazines 2 and 3 inregistration with the slots 11 and 12 to permit the iilm 0 to passlongitudinally therethrough. The open sides of the casings 123 are inregistration with the open ends of the slots 11 and 12in order to permitthe film 9 to be readily threaded through the casings.

Gates, each of which consists of an arcuatc' plate 15 and rollers 16,are arranged within and extend longitudinally of the casing 13. Theplates 15 are longer than the casings 13 to position portions of themoutwardly beyond the casings. The plates 15 are provided at their innerends with flanges 17 which extend; rearwardly beyond their convex sidesand are connected to the rear walls 13 of the casings 13 by hinges 18.Brackets 19 are secured to the front concave sides of the plates 15within the casings l8, and they rotatably support the rollers 16.Springs 20 which are. arranged between the plates 15 and the rear walls13 of the cas-' ings 13, function to urge the rollers 16 in thedirection of the front walls 13 of the casing. Brackets 21 are securedto the concave sides of the plates 15 at the free ends of the plates,and journaled in these brackets are tension rollers 22. V

The film 9 passes through'the casings 13 between the front walls 13thereof and the rollers 16 and 22, and said walls are perfectly smoothinorder to prevent injury to the emulsion side of the film. While beingunwound from the reel 7 onto the reel 8, the film 9 holds the plates 15in a position to retain the rollers 16 slightly out of contact with thefront walls 13 of the casing 13, D

whereby to reduce the wear and strain on the film to the minimum. Theplates 15 are held in this position against the tension of the springs20 and as the result of their formation, the arrangement of-the tensionrollers 22 at their free ends, and the rearward pull exerted on therollers by the its taking the in the main casing 1, or from any othercause, the springs 20 will force the rollers 16 into contact with thefront walls 13 of the casings 13, and as the result the rollers andflanges 17 will close the easings in a manner to cut off allcommunication between the magazines 2 and 3 and the 'main casing 1 andthose portions of the film in the magazines cannot take fire.

It should be understood that the drawings film. When the film breaks, asthe result of are merely illustrative and do not pretend to give exactproportions. Furthermore, the said drawings are illustrative of apreferred construction, it being my expectation that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. A fire stop 01' trap for motion picture machines,comprising a casing, a plate extending longitudinally of the casing andprojecting beyond one end thereof, a flange on the end of the platewithin the casing for contact with one wall of the casing, meanspivoting the plate to such wall of the casing, a spring interposedbetween such wall of the casing and the plate, rollers journaled on theplate for contact with the opposite side of the casing, and a rollerjournaled on the plate beyond the casing.

2. A fire stop or trap for motion picture machines, comprising a casing,an arcuate plate extending longitudinally of the casing and projectingbeyond one end thereof, a flange on the end of the plate within thecasing for contact with one wall of the easing, means pivoting the plateto such Wall of the casing. a spring interposed between such wall of thecasing and the plate, rollers journaled on the concave side of the platefor contact with the opposite wall of the casing, and a roller journalcdon the concave side and outer end of the plate.

In testimony whereof l afi'ix my signature.

DON A. RAYMOND.

